MARTIJN PADDING

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Martijn Padding

In the introduction to his website, Martijn Padding writes regarding his music and way of working that he studied a volume of Béla Bartók’s 'Microcosmos' with the wrong notes. “I thought it sounded wonderful, and it cost me the greatest effort to learn the correct version.” In his music, he ...Full biography

Biography Martijn Padding

In the introduction to his website, Martijn Padding writes regarding his music and way of working that he studied a volume of Béla Bartók’s 'Microcosmos' with the wrong notes. “I thought it sounded wonderful, and it cost me the greatest effort to learn the correct version.” In his music, he plays with the generally accepted concept of “wrong” or “incorrect” notes, with ideas about good taste. His music shows impudent humour. Copying is permitted, he writes, as is entering into repetition, but because people are not machines, at a given moment it will go wrong. It is precisely such non-random mistakes that lead to unpredictable results and even innovation. Padding has made documentaries for radio and is a composition teacher at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.

1956

Martijn Padding is born in Amsterdam on April 24.

1973 - 1990

Padding studies the piano with Fania Chapiro and musicology at the University of Utrecht. After serving for a number of years as a pianist with the Academy of the National Ballet and various ballet companies, such as those of Krisztina de Châtel, Beppie Blankert and Bianca van Dillen, he begins studying composition with Louis Andriessen at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.

1993

Padding receives the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts Encouragement Prize for the piano piece 'Blend' (1992).

1995 - 1997

Padding composes 'Scharf Abreissen' for large orchestra for the 50th anniversary of the Gaudeamus Foundation. He works regularly with Paul Koek and his music theatre group Veenfabriek.

1998 - 2000

Martijn Padding begins teaching at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and is a guest teacher at the International Young Composers Meeting in Apeldoorn. He becomes the composer-in-residence of the LOOS ensemble.

2002 - 2003

The Dutch premiere of 'Tattooed Tongues' is performed in December during the Dutch Music Days in Utrecht, followed by a performance in 2003 in Saint Petersburg.

2004

The Netherlands Wind Ensemble, Guus Jansen and the baritone Frans Fiselier perform 'Kafka’s Sketchbook', for baritone, fortepiano, and historical instrument ensemble and live elctronics. The work is based on sketches made by Ludwig van Beethoven.

2007

For the annual tour of the Netherlands Student Orchestra, Padding writes 'Two Scenes for Orchestra'.

2008 - 2009

Martijn Padding writes 'Licht is de Machine', music theatre on the life and thoughts of Charles Fourier, in collaboration with Paul Koek and the Veenfabriek. 'First Harmonium Concerto' is premiered by Dirk Luijmes and De Ereprijs orchestra on November 9 at Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam. The piece wins the 2009 International Rostrum of Composers Competition in Paris.

2010 - 2011

Padding is the composer-in-residence this season with the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra. The 'Three Concerti' CD, with the violin concerto 'White Eagle' (2009), written for Heleen Hulst, the 'First Harmonium Concerto' and 'Eight Metal Strings' (2007), for mandolin, wins the 2011 Edison Classical award in The New Discovery category.

In the discography you will find all recordings that have been released listed chronologically. We restrict ourselves to the title, the type of audio, year of publication or recording, label, list of guest musicians, plus any comments on the issue.